• Amazon is cutting 16,000 jobs globally, marking the largest layoffs in its history.
• The layoffs are part of a plan to restructure after pandemic-era hiring and focus on AI.
• CEO Andy Jassy emphasizes efficiency, claiming overstaffing and excessive bureaucracy are key issues.
• Affected employees in the U.S. will have 90 days to find new roles before severance packages begin.
• This follows a previous layoff of 14,000 jobs just three months prior.

On January 28, Amazon announced it would be cutting approximately 16,000 jobs globally, marking the second significant round of layoffs within three months. These cuts are part of a broader goal to reduce around 30,000 corporate roles, affecting departments such as Amazon Web Services, retail, and Prime Video. The cuts follow a previous reduction of 14,000 jobs announced in October, as revealed by Reuters and corroborated by Channel News Asia.

Amazon's leadership, including HR chief Beth Galetti, stated that U.S.-based employees will have 90 days to seek new internal roles prior to receiving severance pay and additional benefits. Galetti emphasized the company's efforts to complete restructuring processes that began with earlier layoffs, as noted in reports from CBS News and India Times.

The layoffs also reflect the growing influence of artificial intelligence within corporate operations. CEO Andy Jassy pointed out that AI tools would enhance efficiency, ultimately driving staff reductions in the corporate workforce. This move follows a trend in the tech industry, where companies like Meta and Microsoft are similarly restructuring in response to pandemic-led over-hiring. Significant investments in AI and automation are part of Amazon's strategy, as highlighted by Reuters, Channel News Asia, and India Times.